Rajib Roy: From the streets of Kolkata to Manchester United

Rajib Roy with his mother

India’s continued association with cricket at the top of its sporting mantle has massively stalled the growth of various other games. While the world around us sits and watches its players reach great heights in football, we are restricted to just make up our own expectations by taking pride in players whose origins can be remotely traced back to India.

But this little seed of hope planted by the teenager may just set up the lives of so many in this country. India’s footballing traditions, in the past two decades have been minimized due to the ever-rising popularity of cricket.

But, television and the internet have contributed a lot and India’s interest in the world’s most popular sport has increased by a country mile. Although India is light years away from reaching the pinnacle of world football, the fact that development at the grassroots is the most important step is widely known.

While the stagnant process of many of the Indian teams youth developments remains a thorn, an initiative by European clubs to spot talent in the country becomes a welcome addition. The stringent selection policies for their first teams may result in our countrymen not coming anywhere near the shortlist but what really matters is the exposure they get.

Rajib Roy’s inspiration, Oscar dos Santos had been just like him. Growing out of poverty and now, playing at one of the world’s biggest clubs and under one of the best managers. The effort and determination required for such an arduous undertaking from your childhood is a very hard task and it was a privilege for Rajib Roy to know that someone in Europe had been just like him in his younger days.

The strong motive behind Rajib Roy’s dream to excel is an ever-present struggle to get out of poverty. While that is a catalyst for his transformation, the primary reason is his desire to play the game. Football’s distinction as the world’s most popular sport doesn’t come at a road’s end. It certainly means that no part of the world is without a football freak.

What varies is the influencing power of the game on any individual. Had the same Rajib Roy been born in a European country, he might have been at the far end of a successful road to success with a European club.

The Indian influence has been more of a burden on him than the fact that he is making the country proud. The punishing nature of life to people who live in such conditions, India certainly ranks amongst the top of that derogatory ladder. India’s infatuation with cricket is well known to the world.

But, unlike England where other sports are treated with as much respect, Indian minds pointlessly cater to the vanishing influence of cricket and any other sport is viewed at a lower stature. While football followers are sufficiently located in India, they are unable to make a noticeable change.

Till a few days ago, no one had heard of the name Rajib Roy. Only when a European club came to our country and scouted, did we even bother to learn of the untapped potential India has. For an Indian footballer to shine, he has to come across some opportunity like this. Nine times out of ten, India fails to accommodate its talent with the appropriate gusto.

A boy from the slums of Kolkata making the headlines for getting selected to go to Manchester United widely advertises the fact that football in India is no longer stagnant. The growth of football has been extremely high and a major factor of which is the ever-increasing technology. But, the underlying fact is that the potential of our country is being tapped by foreigners. While on the first note, it should be done within our country.

Football’s popularity has just begun to explode on a large-scale in India and the thoughts of making a life out of football would slowly creep onto the minds of so many young kids. While not everyone would make out a life in Europe or South America, they could clearly redefine the way Indian football has been thought of so far. But, the first step in achieving this is to cultivate football in the roots.

The football associations must focus on instilling football into the minds of young children. They must be trained from a very young age. If there is one thing that will get results, it is continuous training and a proper approach. While the popularity of football is increasing by the day, the quality of players is yet to be of note.

However, there has been a significant progress of football in India. This has been highlighted by the securing of hosting rights for the 2017 U-17 World Cup. The I-League, which is currently the premier football tournament in India, has become hugely popular owing to the newly-formed Bangalore Franchise who won the title in their first season.

Rajib Roy’s selection to the Manchester United team comes down as more than just a blessing to him and his family. The fact that his mother is a sex worker may have come upon hard on him but that has been a major reason in his path to the spotlight.

This inherently shows that familial backgrounds and cultural delusions can only have so much of an effect on oneself. It clearly displays that talent and desire can never be matched by any other force nor can they be overshadowed by such inhibitions.

While Rajib Roy is currently on a scheduled trip to Manchester United, please do not be surprised if he doesn’t make it big there. By getting selected, he has ensured that a million people have another option to explore in their lives.

If not Manchester United, another club. It may even be from our very own I-League. And by saying that, we should be proud that Indian football has come a long way in the last two decades and Rajib Roy is testament to the fact.

When one day, India shows the world its potential in football, we will hold our heads high and sing in praise. Rajib Roy would be the cynosure of all eyes at that moment.

http://youtu.be/M9p_BGAXOKc